I hope he finally gets a lot of touches this week, so we can all see what he can do. Everybody on winter break from NIU is rooting for you with their families tonight Garrett and we always get really excited when you get your opportunities in the NFL.''Any time I get the opportunity to play, I am excited,'' Wolfe said. ''This is what I am here to do: play football. I wouldn't say this season has been strange. It hasn't gone the way I would have liked it to. I am sure that is the same for everyone in this locker room.
''Opportunities [for me] just never materialized. Everything happens for a reason, and things have worked themselves out.''
Tom Deinhart's Coaching Carousel
Northern Illinois
A source close to the Northern Illinois coaching search says two finalists will be on campus later this week. I have confirmed that one candidate is South Florida assistant head coach Dan McCarney. A decision by NIU likely will come soon thereafter.
“This threat did not come out of the blue,” said Mitchell Gaddis, president of the university’s NAACP chapter. “It’s unsafe for us to walk down Greek Row . . . and we’re tired of it.”
Continuing concern over icy streets and sidewalks and poor travel conditions, coupled with concerns and questions related to the previously-released campus alert, has resulted in a decision to close the university on Monday, December 10th. Final exams scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled for Friday, December 14th.
Only essential service personnel should report to work on Monday. Students who must drive should continue to monitor weather conditions and exercise caution with respect to travel decisions.
Several hotlines have been established to field questions and address concerns. Those numbers are:
In addition, updated information will be posted here as it becomes available.
Yay no Monday final!
I hope everybody stays safe tomorrow.
Anyone wanting to speak with a staff member may do so by dialing any of these three numbers until midnight tonight and beginning again at 7:30 a.m. on Monday:
While final exams will proceed as scheduled, NIU officials are urging faculty to accommodate student concerns and allow make-up scheduling of exams later in the week as needed. Students who wish to schedule make-up exams should make arrangements directly with individual faculty.
NIU officials are investigating a threat posted late Saturday evening in a campus residence hall which included a racial slur and references to the Virginia Tech shootings.
Written in black ink on a restroom wall in the Grant Towers D complex were two separate entries claiming that “things will change most hastily” in the final days of the current semester.
“Tell those n---ers to go home,” the first entry reads. “ME / OUT … Die Sem Burr 10th … Hmz Sdn Cr.” Officials believe the text message-style shorthand refers to “December 10” and “Holmes Student Center.” Underlined letters within the first entry spell out the word “WATCH.”
Following the initial entry is a second set of comments reading “What time? The VA tech shooters messed up w/ having only one shooter …”
University leaders notified all students, faculty and staff about the threats through postings on the NIU website, all-campus email, voicemail, fliers and area news media. Security in and around the residence halls, student center and other campus buildings has also been increased, and the campus remains under a security alert through the end of the semester.
Additional communications and offers of assistance for students, faculty, staff and visitors will continue throughout the week. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available on the university website at www.niu.edu.
“My primary concern is for the safety of all members of our campus community, and to that end, we will err on the side of caution in all our actions,” said NIU President John Peters. “We will not tolerate threats against individuals or groups,” Peters said, “nor will we tolerate ‘hate speech’ of any type on this campus.”
Final exams will proceed as scheduled, and university officials said students and staff should remain “calm but vigilant.” Anyone with information about the threats are urged to contact the NIU Tipline at (815) 753-TIPS (8477), or their local Crimestoppers or law enforcement agency.
A sticking point could be the salary figures. Novak lost 35 assistant coaches in his 12-year tenure. Several former NIU assistants took jobs at BCS schools with coaches on the firing block because of the jump in salary.
A source indicated the new assistant coaches would earn a combined $1 million in annual salary to make the assistant positions more attractive and promote stability.
Phillips is searching for a candidate with head coaching experience, which would rule out former NIU assistant and Stanford defensive coordinator Scott Shafer.
According to another source, North Dakota State Athletic Director Gene Taylor has not been contacted by Northern Illinois for permission to talk with Craig Bohl.
Northern Illinois
I have learned that Northern Illinois is focused on three candidates: South Florida assistant head coach Dan McCarney, Southern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill and Grand Valley State head coach Chuck Martin. I also have confirmed that Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker Phillips and North Dakota State coach Craig Bohl are in the mix.
Grafel's earned his spot
